The Missoulian “Bullock: Prescription drug abuse an epidemic”

The Missoulian – August 8, 2008

Steve Bullock, the Democratic nominee for state attorney general, said Thursday that Montana must do more to combat prescription drug abuse, the state’s fastest-growing drug crisis.

Appearing on the courthouse steps to drum up campaign support and nab a political endorsement from Missoula County Attorney Fred Van Valkenburg, Bullock said, if elected as Montana’s chief law enforcement officer, he would strive to better coordinate state and county resources needed to tackle an addiction problem that last year alone killed 141 Montanans, or one person every 2.5 days.

“This is an epidemic that comes right out of our medicine chests, and it will continue to destroy lives unless we coordinate resources, raise awareness at a statewide level and get this thing under control,” Bullock said. “There are a lot of local communities that don’t see this as a problem, and that needs to change.”

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